For over four decades, the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) has been at the forefront of addressing critical issues that directly affect the lives of ordinary people. These include Panchayats, Urban Governance, Health, Education, Women’s Leadership, Tribal and Dalit Representation in Panchayats, Disaster Management, and a broad spectrum of development concerns.

The Institute hosts specialized Centers and Chairs that conduct advanced studies in key domains such as: Multi-level Federalism, Public Policy, and Governance, Asian, African, and Latin American Studies, Urban Studies, Development Economics, Decentralized Planning and Local Self-Governance

Over the years, ISS’s research and action-oriented agenda has contributed to significant knowledge generation and community-level development. This work has supported numerous pro-people’s policies and innovative practices across the country.

Strategic Focus for the Future:

Drawing from its rich legacy and responding to current and emerging development challenges, the Institute will concentrate on the following five key thrust areas:

  1. Rural Transformation and Panchayats
  2. Urban Growth Hubs and Urban Local Bodies
  3. Multi-level Federalism and Public Policies
  4. Social Enterprises and Sustainable Development
  5. Climate Smart Community Disaster Management